The Patch

[Help-Ma-Boab]

Been in patch and flying pig today. Both quiet, went to Gowlett quiet but also good. And Mickey Flanny was in there holding court. MontyP was great.

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> But pricing to choose your customer is normal.

> Think Mayfair hotel bars and Bond Street shops.

>

>

> There is an economic theory on this that I vaguely

> recall from University.

>

> Help me out someone, something to do with diamonds

> and the pricing of attraction.

[unlurked]

Sue Wrote:

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> unlurked Wrote:

> -------------------------------------------------->

> That's true, but also there comes a point when you

> (meaning I) don't want to drink in certain places

> because of the gentrification.

> > Make a stand. The fools with the cash also

> accept

> > crap service and quality in these pubs.

>

> xxxxxxxx

>

> True - but then why would you want to drink there

> too and accept crap service and quality at

> inflated prices?

Ah, but I complain about the service etc when poor.

I still want to demonstrate that I won't be priced out or poor qualitied out of my local pubs and make a point of going regularly enough for them to know I'm still around!

[Mick Mac]

Bugger HMB. Im in Altima Court, across from the Pig - you could have said. The Friday night takeaway was done and dusted and kids in bed by 10.

Sheesh.

:)

[Saus01]

I went to The Patch on NYE. Food very good but front of house, whilst friendly, was quite disorganized - mainly the communication between FOH and the kitchen. We fed this back to the manager who acknowledged there had been issues and apologised. I get the feeling they are teething issues rather than fundamental flaws and would certainly return for dinner.

It's good to have an alternative to Franklins and The Palmerston (which seems too inconsistent) in the area.

[DulwichFox]

Never understood the concept of Teething Troubles...

When you spend 6 months + sorting the place out. (Priority given to hideous graffiti on outside.)

Get in a 'Top Chef' ??

Then employ inexperienced staff. (NOT their fault)

Then charge top restaurant prices???

Same old ED Story..

Not been many reports good or bad since they opened.

Have been passed several times for a nose(21.00-21.30) No one in front bar. 6 people in dining area...??

Walk past the Palmerston at that time it is often packed.

Something not quite right.

Might pick up in the summer when the weather is warmer. Old Mag was always a cold place.

DulwichFox

[unlurked]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Never understood the concept of Teething

> Troubles...

>

> When you spend 6 months + sorting the place out.

> (Priority given to hideous graffiti on outside.)

>

> Get in a 'Top Chef' ??

>

> Then employ inexperienced staff. (NOT their

> fault)

>

> Then charge top restaurant prices???

>

> Same old ED Story..

>

> Not been many reports good or bad since they

> opened.

>

> Have been passed several times for a

> nose(21.00-21.30) No one in front bar. 6 people in

> dining area...??

>

> Walk past the Palmerston at that time it is often

> packed.

>

> Something not quite right.

>

> Might pick up in the summer when the weather is

> warmer. Old Mag was always a cold place.

>

> DulwichFox

Agree whole heartedly. Teething probs is a shite excuse. The place is not, and never will be up to scratch due to too many 'partners' and a make as much money as poss attitude, rather than service and earned profit.

[NewWave]

I just feel the need to comment that anyone quoting The Patch as having 'top restaurant prices' has obviously never been in a Top restaurant or even a fairly average West End restaurant for that matter.

Go and have lunch for Two at Liberty Department store in the west end for instance-with mediocre food and characterless waiting staff and it will actually cost more for two courses and wine per person that Lunch at The Patch.

I know this as I have done both in the past Few weeks.

I find it tedious when people bleat on about prices-you can either afford to eat somewhere or not.

And make your dining choices accordingly.

I am a normal working woman who eats out on special occasions and I appreciate that a decent meal will certainly involve expenditure outside my usual budget.

[Jah Lush]

I don't think anyone on here has compared it to West End prices NewWave. I could be wrong of course but I can't be arsed to go through the entire 15 pages of this thread again to check. It's the ?4.40 for a pint of Guinness and ?16.00 for a fecking fry up that gets my goat.

Is it a pub that does food or is it a restaurant with a bar? I don't think even the owners can answer that one.

[NewWave]

Not being a beer drinker I can't comment on the cost of a pint however I DO agree that ?16 for breakfast is extortionate.

I must confess I initially thought of it as a restaurant but having actually visited the place the layout and feel is more like a pub with a restaurant at the back.

I would add that although the food is superb I also felt that the place lacked an identity in terms of interior design.

which also added to the feel of it being a pub with food attached.

[Jah Lush]

Agree the interior design definitely needs tweaking. Looking on the dining area from the bar it appears to me a bit like a school dinner hall or works canteen. I intend to eat there soon and hope that the food is as superb as you say it is. I've certainly no qualms about the wine list. ;-)

[Sue]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> Agree the interior design definitely needs

> tweaking. Looking on the dining area from the bar

> it appears to me a bit like a school dinner hall

> or works canteen.

xxxxxx

Is the restaurant part laid out like the Mag(nolia) was, then? Because that always seemed like a quite bare and characterless eating area to me.

[david_carnell]

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> But pricing to choose your customer is normal.

> Think Mayfair hotel bars and Bond Street shops.

>

>

> There is an economic theory on this that I vaguely

> recall from University.

>

> Help me out someone, something to do with diamonds

> and the pricing of attraction.

It's known as a "veblen good" where the higher the cost, the more desirable it becomes. This is in opposition to the more common and widely understood "law of demand". Luxury goods drop in demand if their price falls since they are no longer deemed to be exclusive. So diamonds, rolls-royce etc. The Patch isn't quite in that league.

Rather, the Patch could be seen as a "positional good" in that it's value is derived from it's desirability rather than a comparison to other goods on the market.

It's not that the food is any better than anywhere else, but for some people, paying ?16 for a fry-up will make them feel like they are getting something exclusive. And to an extent they'd be correct in that only a limited number of consumers are willing to pay that.

Always wondered when that economics a-level would come in handy.

[MrBen]

The rest of the menu for lunch and dinner - see above on this thread is actually very reasonable. I wouldnt get too hung up on the fact they've gone off whack on this breakfast option. Also it seems they dropped their main menu prices in November after getting initial feedback. As many others have said its only in line with ToasteED, Franklins and Palmerston.

I'm with NewWave that its boring hearing the same old negative moaners complaining about prices. A few have had it in for this place from the start for no obvious reason apart from it not being the bygone era of strippers and warm pints of bitter for ?2.50 like it did back in the 1980's. Jah has given a fairly balanced view thus far - and if he likes the wine list that scores serious points with me. The food is also fantastic - why not try it rather than moan?

[katanita]

Have they got more beers in? When I went in after opening (but before they started serving food) they had a pretty uninspiring selection, and yeah, on the pricey side. But maybe they are more focussed on the wines? The service was also extremely casual and the space a bit cold and soulless. Which hasn't encouraged me to try the food tbh, but will do at some point.

[Jeremy]

DC - I remember being taught this using Parker pens as example... they reduced the price of their basic range, and sales plummeted. They were forced to abandon the line and introduce a new, more expensive entry level model.

Anyway... looking forward to trying The Patch.

[purplehaze]

so which place is doing the most business

the patch -- which has had a sustained relentless crap attack since day one

or

toasted - which had initial praise then dead silence

[Jah Lush]

Mr Ben is spot on in that there has been a persistent bunch of moaners who haven't even stepped through the doors yet. If you must moan about it, do so from experience. I want the place to be successful as I'd hate another pub in the area to close down and turned into flats.

[Otta]

Agree.

But have any pubs in the area actually ever shut down and turned to flats?

[El Pibe]

Hoopers shut down. :(

[Jah Lush]

The Oglander, The Heber and as far as I know Hoopers will also be turned into flats unless someone else wants to takeover and that doesn't seem to be happening.

[Jeremy]

Oglander

[Otta]

Forgot The Heber, but that was closed 20 odd years ago.

Isn't The Oglander and Hoo[ers one and the same place?

[Carrie]

Hoopers was the Ivanhoe on corner of Ivanhoe and Malfort Road - Oglander was on corner of Oglander and Adys

[Otta]

Doh, of course, I was getting Oglander and Ivanhoe mixed up.

Must admit I can't even remember noticing the Oglander, can't picture it at all.

[????]

...and if we just go over the border to SE5 we could add just off the top of my head, sad but i guess inevitable

...the Denmark

The Athanueum

The Orange Tree

The Admiral Codrington

The Windmill

...and one up Camberwell New Road on the right whose name escapes me

...and I am sure some more